Automatic firing device for explosive shells.



O. K. NICCOIVIBS. AUTOMATIC FIRING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE SHELLS. APPLlcfxTxoN FILED 1AN.29. lala.

Patented Jan. 7', 1919.

f 2* d? f2 I. ,gf/"a l F739 Z J 7 I? X y Le 3!- R g 9 Q 1J Zi 116,7 3 l l u n g :Z

1f? 19 g I 22 15a' Z0 n ZZ v Z0? 2f i "iii ORVILLE K. MCCOVIBS. 0F GALVESTON, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC FIRING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

Speeicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1919.

Application led January 29, 1918. Serial No. 214,340.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ORVILLE K. MoCoMBs, a citizen of the United States, stationed at Fort Crockett, Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Firing Devices for Explosive Shells; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is intended to provide an automatic firing device by means of which an explosive shell may be caused to travel any distance within the range of the shell through the air without exploding; but may be automatically exploded at a predetermined interval after striking the surface of the water, and thus the shell may be used as a depth charge or projectile mine.

My invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference symbols indicate similar parts throughout the several views Figure 1 shows a central longitudinal section through the forward end of a shell, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 shows a section along the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 shows a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

l represents a shell body which is internally screw-threaded, as at 2, to engage corresponding screw threads on the cap 3. This cap is provided with a chamber 4, which chamber has the lateral projection 5, and separated from this chamber is a second chamber 6 in which the piston 7 fits snugly; the piston 7 being connected by the piston rod 8 to the head 9, the piston being normally pressed forward by the coil spring 10.

The chamber 5 is closed by the screw plug 11, and the chamber 6 is closed by the screw plug 12 after the parts are assembled therein. i

The hammer 13 is pivoted on the pin 14, whose center lies in the longitudinal axis of the shell, and this hammer is provided with an arm 15 adapted to engage the head 9 of the piston rod 8; and for the proper balancing of the parts when the shell is spinning, it is also provided with a symmetrically-disposed arm 15a opposite the arm 15.

The other end 16 of the hammer 13 is under tension by the spring 17, and the hammer is provided with a tiring pin or point 18, adapted to engage the primer 19 which may be connected either to an ordinary delayed action fuse, or to a time train 20. The primer and spring and fuse or time 4train arev carried by the plate 21 bolted to the cap 3 by the bolts 22. These bolts should be symmetrically disposed relative to the axis of the shell, and in fact all of the moving parts are so arranged that their weights will be symmetrically disposed relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe shell after the shell has been spun up by the rifling of the gun and while -it continuesin flight.

The spring 17 projects down into a chamber 23 in the plate 21, and this chamber is closed by a screw cap 24. This forconvenience in assembling the parts.

At the forward end of the cap 3 I provide a tapered channel 25, whose inner end opens into the chamber 6 and whose outer end is closed by a bushing 26. This bushing is provided with an opening there- Y through connected to the passage 25. The opening in this bushing is normally kept closed until the shell is loaded into the gun by any suitable stopper, such as the cork plug 27. By keeping this passage closed, except when the projectile is fired, the parts inclosed in the cap may be protected against moisture or corrosion.

After the shell has been fired from the gun and continues its flight, with the point forward in the usual way, air will be forced into the passage 25 and will tend Ato press back the piston 7 against the action of the spring 10.; but thisspring should be strong enough to safely resist thepressure ofthe air until the projectile strikes the water, when the water, flowing by reason of its impact with 4the shell into the passage 6, will force back the piston, causing the head 9 of the plunger to clear the arm 15 ofthe hammer thus releasing the hammer and allowing the ring point 18 to strike the prifao mer undertheaction of the spring 17, which will ignite the fuse or time train'fand vwill spring' 10 shouldV be" Y'amply 'strong to lrearV sist i according to the time itf'is desired to delay tbe-actionof thejjmechanisni. Moreover, by

varying the aperture through the bushing 26, thefdepthin'the water, to which the projecti'lepasses before the pressure is sufficient.V

@t 'move' back the' piston and release the It ,will be seen that the jcru 'in fsa proXmately the desired depth inthe water witllout use of fu'seetrain. Y

the device is espefilly .adapted foriise with low power guns ,fired at high @elevation and high trajectory,

Where the proj ectile will strike the 'waterl at 4Such .gu/ns are especially efficient against" Uboats, for if they projectile strikesy the f f Ufboatwithout exploding it will puncture Yshelllwilljexplodebeneath the same; Ywhile the shell thereofY 'andl passing, throughfthe it it, misses the U'boat and explodes at suin- WQlllS lzieetedf. Suchshells are intendedV to carry large charges Yofhigh explosive,

an the walls of thefsameniay be comparative yf thin, but,A the"t chambers Y for the j explosiveare comparatively larget this invention is using awa-ter pressure generated by rea- The Aoutstanding,feature of sonjoflits impactwith aswiftly; Vmoving f fshell, to. .0p er ateithe firing mechanism.

will beobvious that various. modificationsmightfbe made in the herein described apparaiS and 'in ,the construction,comf

bi'r'iation 'Y andY arrangement of parts which beheed Withoutjde'pagrting from the f Spirit of` my, invention, and I do not intend to limitm'ylinveiition ,to such details` except as Vparticularly pointediout ,inthe claims.

'Havng thus describedmy invention, what I l claim. ;and desinefto secure Nby LettersvPatf "1 P en .,ofitherUnited States-isps. Y 55,

Y Y pirojfectile ot the4 [character 'described jco; risingila Vbody vportion and aY cap, said cap .j eilig-provided with". aV hammer .chainan inlet op ening in p 'and'an outlet opening ini the d ofv piston chamber, laV piston, Y

o said" hammer chamber,

chamber and liavingran arm engaging said headbut adapted to bereleased yas said head 1s pressed backward, vand a primer. adapted j Y Y.comprising abody portion and a cap,said Y Y Since this pressure Ywill vary with the velocity of thenrojectile, it is desirable to .have goodY marginot safety, thus .the samef shell may be usedV withditferent Vbushings,

capbeingvprovided with va hammer chamber cap andan outlet opening inthe front end oi saidpistoncham'ber, a perforated busliing detachably connected tosaidjcap over the inlet end of vsaid passage, forYi'egulating `Vthe size Of Said inlet opening, a piston, ,piston 'rod and l ,'pistonchamber,

hammer, may be predetermined; thus the j projectile may be caused to explode at apsprin'g, mounted" in said projecting intoV said hammer.V chamber,Y a

the head ,of Vsaid "piston rod spring impressed hammer mountedin said chamberpand yhaving an arm engagingsaid head` but adapted Yt'oV be released as said headl is pressed backward, and a primer adapted to be struck by said hammer when released, substantially as described. l

8. A projectile ofVY he character described, comprising abody portion anda cap,fsaid cap 'being provided with a hammer chamber zand a pistonchamber, and a passage having anginlet O peningin the forward part ofthe cap and an outlet 'opening' in Vtlieiiont end of Vsaid lpiston chamber, a piston, piston rod and springmonnted vin said piston cham- Y ber, the head of said piston rod projecting into said"= hammer` chamber, laY Vspring Y im- 'Y pressed;V hammerY mounted in said cha-inbl.` and 'having an arm" engaging said head' but adaptedfto be releisjedfasf saidhead is pressed backward, thesaid piston`VV rod and the parts 1carried thereby, asalso thesaid hammer being mounted transversely of said 'cap' andi` havingtheirweights V3b"alan'cejd about thelongitudinal axiso'tjthe projectile,

and; a primer adapted to 'be' struclrl bysaid hammer when released, substantially as de Sclibedi. A. pmfjecuief the hamer"deseaban, Yfoon'iprising aV bodyy portion anda cap, said cap .being provided with a hammer chamber and apiston chamber, a passage having the forward part of Vthe Vcap, andan outletfopening in the frontend of saidpiston chamber, a perf01 at`ed bus'lio ing detachably ,c'onnectedfto said capover the inlet endV ofsaidipassage, f'or regulatfY ing the-'size ,oQffsaid inlet opening, a piston,

piston rodi and spring mounted inf said Y piston Vvchamber, be ,and"LQ:pistonY chambera passage Y V Y 1*"'113 ci w11 1110@ 'f 'Pi of chambery thek head .of [said 4 piston rod proj eoting into, said hammer chamber,

a Springv impressed lhaninier in `iuntel piston rod andthe i-parts-'carried lt-hereby, i

asalso thefsaid hammer being. mounted fifirsrerslelr lsf Said.; sarees keine their weights balanced about the longitudinal aXis of the projectile, and a primer adapted to be struck by said hammer when released, substantially as described.

5. A projectile of the character described, comprising a body portion and a cap, said cap being provided with a hammer chamber and a piston chamber, and a passage having and inlet opening in the forward part of the cap and an outlet opening in the front end of said piston chamber, a piston, piston rod and spring mounted in said piston chamber, the head of said piston rod projecting into said hammer chamber, a spring impressed hammer mounted in said chamber and having an arm engaging said head but adapted to be released as said head is 1pressed bacwward, and a primer adapted to e struck by said hammer when released, with a delayed action firing device adapted to be ignited by said primer, substantially as described.

6. A projectile of the character described, comprising a body portion and a cap, said cap being provided with a hammer chamber and a piston chamber, and a passage having an inlet opening in the forward part of the cap and an outlet opening in the front end of said piston chamber, a perforated bushing detachably connected to said cap over the inlet end of said passage, for regulating the size of said inlet opening, a piston, piston rod and spring mounted in said piston chamber, the head of said piston rod projecting into said hammer chamber, a spring impressed hammer mounted in said chamber and having an arm engaging said head but adapted to be released as said head is pressed backward, and a primer adapted to be struck by said hammer when released, with a delayed action firing device adapted to be ignited by said primer, substantially as described.

7. A projectile of the character described, comprising a body portion and a cap, said cap being provided with a hammer chamber and a piston chamber, and a passage having an inlet opening in the forward part of the cap and an outlet opening in the front end of said piston chamber, a piston, piston rod and spring mounted in said piston chamber, the head of said piston rod projecting into said hammer chamber, a spring impressed hammer mounted in said chamber and having an arm engaging said head but adapted to be released as said head is pressed backward, the said piston rod and the parts carried thereby, as also the said hammer being mounted transversely of said cap and having their weights balanced about the longitudinal axis of the projectile, and a primer adapted to be struck by said hammer when released, with a delayed action firing device adapted to be ignited by said primer, substantially as described.

8. A projectile of the character described, comprising a body portion and a cap, said cap being provided with a hammer chamber and a piston chamber, and a passage having an inlet opening in the forward part of the cap and an outlet opening in the front end of said piston chamber, a perforated bushing detachably connected to said cap over the inlet end of said passage, for regulating the size of said inlet opening, a piston, piston rod and spring mounted in said piston chamber, the head of said piston rod projccting into said hammer chamber, a spring impressed hammer mounted in said chamber and havin an arm engaging said head but adapted to e released as said head is pressed backward, the said piston rod and the parts carried thereby, as also the said hammer being mounted transversely of said cap and having their weights balanced about the longitudinal aXis of the projectile, and a primer adapted to be struck by said hammer when released, with a delayed action firing device adapted to be ignited by said primer, substantially as described.

9. A projectile of the character described, comprising a body portion and a cap, a pis` ton chamber provided in said cap and also a passage having an inlet opening in the forward part of the cap and an outletopening in the front end of said piston chamber, a spring impressed piston mounted in said piston chamber, a spring impressed hammer mounted in said cap, with means operated by said piston for releasing said hammer, and a primer adapted to be struck by said hammer when released, substantially as described.

10. A projectile of the character described, comprising a body portion and a cap, a piston chamber provided in said cap and also a passage having an inlet opening in the forward part of the cap and an outlet opening in the front end of said piston chamber, a perforated bushing detachably connected to said capover the inlet end of said passage, for regulating. the size of said inlet opening, a spring impressed piston mounted in said piston chamber, a spring impressed hammer mounted in said cap, with means operated by said piston for releasing said hammer, and a primer adapted to be struck by said hammer when released, substantially as described.

l1. A projectile of the character described, comprising a body portionV and a cap, a piston chamber provided in said cap and also a passage having an inlet opening in the forward part of the cap and an outlet opening in the front end of said piston chamber, a -spring impressed piston mounted in said piston chamber, a spring impressed hammer mounted in said cap, with means operated by said piston for releasing said hammer, and a primer adapted to be struck byfsaidlhammer'when released, with a'deconnected f 112. A. projectile of the character described, v

comprising "a body'jportion andV a cap,4 a

piston chamber-,provided in said capYV and VValso a-pas'sagehavinguan inlet opening in the'orvvardrpart ofthe; cap and anfoutlet opening :in theY front end of saidf piston al perforated bushing detachably to saidfcap over theinlet end of chamber,

` Y said passage,rfor regulating the size of said inlet' opening, a springl impressed piston Humountedin said piston chamber, Ya spring fi'mpressed hammer mounted .in said cap,V

YYY@With means operated bysaid piston YJforl re- 1j leasingsaidhammer, and a primer adapted i "to be struck by saidi'hammergvvhen released,

Vvwith a delayed action firing device adapted VVVto be ignited said' primer, substantially as ing in the front end of VsaidY piston chamber, a spring impressed piston VmountedV in saidj 30' pistonV chambena springimpressed hammer'y fdescribed'. Y Y Y 13, A projectile of the character described, Vcomprising a bodyf'portion and a cap, a

i piston chamber provided insaid cap and also Va passage having an inlet openingin the orvvardpart of the cap and an outletopenlongitudinal A primer adapted to be struck by said hammer mounted in said capQvvithY means operatedV by v,said VpistonQi'ory releasing ,said hammer, the

piston *and hammer'being mountedtrans Y versely of said cap, vandhaving their Weights balancedY aboutr the "longitudinal aXisfof the projectile, and a primer adapted toibe'struckV "by said hammer When released, substantially as described.VV Y 1 Y j Y' 14. VA projectile of Vthe character described, comprisingY a 'body portionv and .a cap, a

' piston chamber provided in said cap and also VVa passage having an inlet Vopening in the v:torvvardipart of the cap'and an outlet opening` inthe front end Vof said piston chamber, a perforated I Vbushing detachably connected to said cap over thejinlet end of said passage,forregulating the sizefof said inlet opening, a spring impressed Vpiston mounted in said piston chamber, a spring impressed hammer mounted n said cap,y With means operated by said piston for releasing said hammer, the 4piston Vand hammer being mounted transversely of said cap, and hav- Ving `-theirfweights balanced rabout the axis Vof vthe projectile, and a when released, substantially as described.

ln testimony Whereotlaiiix my signature.

. 'Ef K. MVCCOMBS-` Y 'Copies lef this' patent niayfbe obtained for ve cents each, by addressingrthve fG'mmi'ssioner offPatents,

Washington, D. Gi 

